Beach Sand

[Freind]

Hi

Few months back we went to Destin beach in Florida. I like the sand color so I filled two bags with no obvious intention. Since than it is sitting dry in my garage.

Last week my son bought a nano tank, and we are in process of buying stuff and setting it up.

I am just curious that can we use this beach sand in our nano tank. Will it help to
maintain ph,
Provide good surface area for bacteria growth and
nitrification.
Thank you

 

[JTL]

I live a couple of blocks from the Gulf and once used sand but not directly from the beach. I waded out up to my waste. The stuff on the beach can be pretty nasty but since yours has dried out maybe not so bad now. I thought about doing this again for my recent build but decided it was too risky.

 

[Mark Bianco]

Have you ever noticed as the waves wash over the beach it sometimes leaves a white scum? Welcome to natures skimmer... IMHO no way unless you clean it thoroughly.

Mark

 

[Opcn]

I wouldn't worry too much about the scum from the beach. If you have appropriate nutrient export in your tank you'll clean it out. If you don't then your tank will fail anyways, and a little extra scum will just speed it up by a couple of weeks.

Rinse it well, the white sand is mostly coral crushed by parrotfish, should work just fine. Many find that a thin sand bed is easier to maintain than a deeper one.

 

[Freind]

I live a couple of blocks from the Gulf and once used sand but not directly from the beach. I waded out up to my waste. The stuff on the beach can be pretty nasty but since yours has dried out maybe not so bad now. I thought about doing this again for my recent build but decided it was too risky.

I did not picked it from the water.
I picked up way away from the water line, but within the beach area.

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

I wouldn't use it. So much trash and stuff, no telling what's in that sand.

 

[Freind]

Thank you All

 

[JustinM]

Google PaulB’s tank. It’s over 40 years old and most his stuff comes out of the Long Island Sound. I believe he uses mud from the sound to introduce bacteria.

 

[flsalty]

I did not picked it from the water.
I picked up way away from the water line, but within the beach area.

You would probably have been better off getting it from below the water line. I've done that and it had all kinds of cool life in it. You can probably use what you have but it would need to be rinsed REALLY well.

 

[outy]

It would be fine, I would wash it with hose water first. Nothing wrong using real sand